Mechanism for grooving mine hoist drums and the like



A ril 5, 1966 w. E. RUEHMER 3,

MECHANISM FOR GROOVING MINE HOIST DRUMS AND THE LIKE Original Filed Jan. 22, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 A l s e I 00 $2 N O o S [g] I NVE N TOR.

April 1966 w. E. RUEHMER 3,244,037

IECHANISH FOR GROOVING IINE HOIS'I' DRUMS AND THE LIKE Original Filed Jan. 22, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 l 9 l2. g; g d! u 8v 1/ 75 n -J l [2 e e e e 74 7 I I l O O g Q I V o V IL. f

INVENTOR. fly/zz/ifizz/mz/ April 1966 W..E. RUE HMER 3,244,037

IEGHANISM FOR GROOVING- MINE HOIST DRUMS AND THE LIKE Original Filed Jan. 22, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 5, 1966 w. E. RUEHMER 3,244,037

MECHANISM FOR GROOVING MINE HOIST DRUMS AND THE LIKE Original Filed Jan. 22, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

April 5, 1966 w. E. RUEHMER 3,244,037

MECHANISM FOR GROOVING MINE HOIST DRUMS AND THE LIKE Original Filed Jan. 22, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Q 14 WW/ [Ki/Z2) Afformyr.

D -5, 966 w. E. RUEHMER 3,244,037

MECHANISM FOR enoovme MINE HOIS'I mamas AND THE LIKE Original Filed a 22, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet e INVENTOR Affwweyf.

April 5, 1966 w. E.-RUEHMER 3,

MECHANISM FOR GROOVING MINE HOIST DRUMS AND THE LIKE Original Filed Jan. 22, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 ii/M i w r 1 I i r 54% I I i (w/a l i F 7 i 24 I I i l i I I I l i l .L l I 1 United States Patent Claims. (Cl. 822) This application is a division of copending application Serial No. 167,790 filed January 22, 1962.

This invention relates to a apparatus for grooving cable winding drums, for example mine hoist drums.

A primary purpose of the invention is an apparatus of the type described which forms a crossover between adjacent parallel grooves on the periphery of a mine hoist drum or the like.

Another purpose is an apparatus of the type described having improved means for controlling the operation of the grooving tool.

Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawings and claims.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of the assembly for grooving mine hoist drums or the like,

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective of the apparatus for controlling the movement of the grooving tool,

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the control apparatus shown in FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the control apparatus shown in FIGURES 2 and 3,

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged front view of the grooving tool and associated control equipment,

FIGURE 6 is a perspective showing a drum to be grooved in position on a rotating platform, and

FIGURE 7 is a wiring diagram of the control circuit used.

This invention is particularly concerned with grooving large mine hoist drums. One of the problems in the formation of such grooves is to provide crossover points so that the cable positioned in the grooves may cross over from one groove to the next. The present invention proposes a system for automatically and periodically forming crossover grooves as the grooving tool works on the periphery of the drum.

In FIGURE 1, a pair of posts or columns I!) may be suitably mounted on a base or floor 12. A rotating platform or table 14 which mounts or supports the drum D during the grooving operation is positioned between the posts and is driven by a suitable motor or the like, not shown. Mounted on the posts is a crossrail 16 which may be arranged for vertical movement on the posts. A horizontal support 18 may be mounted between the upper end of the posts to stabilize the equipment.

Mounted for horizontal movement on the crossrail 16 is a saddle 20, at the right-hand side of FIGURE 1, which mounts the grooving tool. At the left-hand side of FIGURE 1 is a similar saddle 22 which is used to balance the drum being grooved. The saddle 22 does not have the control equipment that is on the saddle 29, but does have a stabilizing block or the like 22a, at its lower end, which bears against the drum being grooved at a point opposite the grooving tool. In this way, the pressure on opposite sides of the drum is equal and there will be no inaccuracies in the grooves being formed. The saddles 20 and 22 may be moved horizontally by means of a screw 23 counterweighted by a cable connection 24 or the like which passes about pulleys 26 positioned on arms 28 on either side of the crossrail 16.

Pulleys or the like 29 may be suitably mounted on each of the saddles for connection to the cable 24.

Mounted at the bottom of the saddle 20 is a suitable grooving tool 30. As shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, the tool 39, which may be any one of a number of conventional grooving tools, forms grooves 32 about the periphery 34 of a cable winding drum. The tool 30 will be held in a stationary vertical position during a major portion of the drum rotation. The grooves formed by the tool when in this position will be generally horizontal, or perpendicular to the drum axis, and will be parallel to one another. These grooves are indicated at 36 in FIG- URE 5.

In order to form crossover grooves so that the cable may pass from one parallel groove to the next, the tool 3%) will be indexed downward or upwardly as the drum rotates. The crossover grooves, which are somewhat helical, are indicated at 38 in FIGURE 5. There may be one, two or more crossover grooves during each 360 degrees of groove, the number of crossover grooves depending upon the size of the drum and the diameter of the cable. As shown in the drawings, there are two crossover grooves, one each degrees. Accordingly, the tool 30 will move downward a distance slightly more than half the width of the groove during each indexing operation. The tool 3% will move downward a distance equal to the width of the groove plus the space between grooves during each 360 degrees of drum rotation.

In order to provide the proper timing for the indexing movement, a cam surface 46, shown irl FIGURES 1 and 6, may be positioned on the pehiphery of the platform or table 14. The number of camming surfaces depends upon the number of crossover grooves during each 360 degrees of groove. A follower or contact 42 is positioned to contact the camming surface 40. Movement of the follower 42 will close a limit switch or the like, shown in FIGURE 7, to actuate the indexing mechanism. The indexing operation will be stopped when the tool has been moved a predetermined distance downward. The means for stopping the tool will be described hereinafter.

A ram 44 may be mounted on the saddle 29 for vertical movement and carries the tool 30 at its lower end. A similar ram 46 may be mounted on the saddle 22. A suitable drive motor 48, preferably continuously running during the grooving operation, is mounted on a housing or the like 50. The ram 44 moves within the housing 50 and is reciprocated by a drive gear 52, shown in FIG- URES 4 and 45. The drive gear 52 is controlled by the motor 48, through the gear, clutch and brake arrangement to be described.

The motor 48 drives a shaft 54, shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The shaft 54 runs at right angles to the motor drive shaft and there may be suitable gearing 56 or the like. At the outer end of the drive shaft 54 is a drive gear 58 which is in mesh with an outer idler gear 60. Mounted on the same shaft with the outer idler gear 60 is an inner idler gear 62 which is in mesh with a driven gear 64. Each of the idler gears 61) and 62 is mounted on an arm 66 which rotates about the axis of the driven gear 64. A suitable plate 68, which may be in the shape of a segment, has a groove 70 which may be used to move the arm 66 to any desired angular position. A conventional nut and bolt connection 72 may be used to lock the arm in position. By having a pivotal arm which mounts the idler gears, it is possible to use different size drive gears and so to change the speed at which the ram and tool move vertically.

The driven gear 64 is mounted on a suitable shaft 74 which is connected to a clutch 76. The shaft 74 may run through a suitable bearing housing or the like 78. The clutch may be electrical and is activated by the cam arrangement on the periphery of the table 14. A shaft 80 extends outwardly from the clutch 76 and passes through a gear box 82. On the outward end of the shaft 80 is a suitable electrical brake 84. The brake 84 is operated when the clutch 76 is disengaged to provide instantaneous stopping of the ram once the tool 31) has traveled a sufiicient downward distance. In this way, there will be no overtravel and the tool will stop as soon as the crossover groove has been completely formed. The gear box 82 may include a conventional arrangement for transferring the rotation of shaft 39 to drive gear 52. The drive gear 52 is in mesh with a gear rack 83 on the ram and is used to move the ram in a vertical direction.

The upper end of the ram 44 may mount a suitable bracket 86 which carries a vertical indexing bar 88. A

suitable bracket or guide 90 may be mounted on the housing 50 to stabilize the lower end of the bar 88. Mounted along one side of the bar 88 are a series of generally equally spaced teeth or project-ions or buttons 92. The distance between the points of each of the teeth is the distance which the ram should travel when moving the tool through one indexing operation. A suitable limit switch 94 having a cam 96 is positioned to bear against the teeth 92. The limit switch 94,- as will be explained hereinafter, is effective to stop the downward movement of the ram and tool 60 by simultaneously activating the brake 84 and disengaging the clutch 76. The cam 96 will bear against the teeth 92 and movement of the indexing shaft 88 downward a distance equal to the space between teeth will cause the limit switch 94 to stop the ram. In this way, the downward movement of the tool 30 can be precisely controlled.

FIGURE 7 illustrates the electrical circuit used in controlling the brake and clutch. Power to operate the brake and clutch may come from a suitable source to a transformer indicated generally at 98, if a step down is necessary. One side of the transformer secondary is connected through a fuse to a three position switch 100. The switch 100 adapts the system for automatic or manual operation. When switch 109 is in the auto position, the off and autoterminals are connected togethen The vari- \ous components making the electrical circuit may easiest be described by goingthrough a sequence of operation. Considering first when indexing is to be done manually, the switch 160 is turned to the hand position. When switch 192 is closed by the operator, power is directed from the transformer 98 through. the switch 100 to the clutch 76 and to brake relay coil 84a of the brake 84. The brake is normally holding through brake contacts 84b which are released when brake relay coil 84a is activated. The clutch will close and the ram start downward. The ram is stopped by releasing switch 102. The clutch may be conventional "and, accordingly, it is not thought necessary to describe its circuit in detail.

When the selector switch 100 is on auto the operation is as follows. As the ram is stationary, one of the buttons 92 will open the top contact of switch 94 and close the bottom contact. Light 103 will thus be energized. The table or platform 14 is turning and when follower 42 contacts the camming surface 40, both contacts of switch 104 will close. The top contact of switch 1G4 energizes clutch 76 and opens brake contacts 8% through its relay coil 84a. The bottom contact of switch 164 operates light 106. The initial movement of the ram permits switch 94 to move to the position shown in FIGURE 7 which cuts out light 1&8.

After the carnming surface has moved by follower 42, 'switch104 opens. The circuit to the brake and clutch is still complete however, through the top contact of switch 94. Light 106 is now extinguished. The ram is stopped when the next ram button engages switch 94 and moves its contacts opposite to that shown in FIGURE 7. The clutch and brake are opened and light 108 is lit.

The ram is started by the follower 42 striking the camming surface '40. It is stopped by the buttons 92. In

this way the vertical distance the ram moves is precisely controlled and will not be changed by varying table speed. The buttons can be pre-set so that there will be the proper number of crossovers on each drum. The start of each crossover will be aligned, but the end may vary slightly due to a change in table speed. The important point is that all of the grooves will be placed on the drum.

In addition to the indexing operation controls, it is necessary to have motor controls to position the ram prior to the beginning of a grooving operation. Line 110 is connected directly to the transformer 98 and to a push-button 112 which will stop the motor 48 when it is pressed. In circuit with the push-button 112 are pushbut-tons 114 and 116, which are in parallel. Push ou'tton 14 is effective to run the motor 48 in a direction to move the ram upward whereas button 116 is effective to move the ram downward. The motor control circuits are separate and apart from the circuits controlling the movement of the ram.

The push buttons 114 and 116 are effective to operate the magnetic starter for the motor 48. The starter has not been shown as it is a conventional circuit. Push button-s 1'14 and 116 are principally concerned with controlling the direction of motor travel and ram movement.

Coil 120 in series with push button 114 is effective, through contacts 122, to lock in ram movement innan up direction. When coil 120 is energized, by operation of push button 114, contacts 124 open so that push button 116 is inelfective. In like manner, coil 126, through contacts 128, is effective to lock in down movement of the ram. Contacts are controlled by coil 126 to open the circuit to push button 114. Contacts 132 are opened by an overload. When it is desired to have automatic ram movement in a down direction, push button 116 is operated. Push button 114 is operated when it is desired to have automatic ram movement. in an up direct-ion. These same push buttons may be used to position the ram prior to the beginning of a grooving operation.

The use, operation and function of the invention are as follows:

It is necessary to provide crossover points in the grooves on the periphery of a mine hoist drum or the like so that the cable in the grooves will lie smooth and fiat and there will be no ridges which could eventually cause wear. The present invention proposes at least one crossover point for each 360 degrees of groove circumference. The crossover points are formed during the grooving operation by indexing the grooving tool downwardor upward as the drum continues to rotate. The grooving tool will move through a predetermined distance so that the crossover groove has a properlength. The number of crossover points in each 360 degrees of drum circumference may vary, but the total length of the crossovers for each 360 degrees should be slightly greater than the width of the groove. The major portion of the grove in each 360 degrees will be generally perpendicular to the drum axis, with the crossover grooves ,forming slightly helical connections between adjacent parallel grooves.

Because of the size of the drum D, it is preferred to groove half of the drum first. The grooving tool is moved downward as described until the top half of the drum is grooved. Then the drum is turned over and the grooving tool moves up to groove what is now the top half. The second step is shown in FIGURE 6. In the alternative, the grooving operation may begin at the middle of the drum. If the grooving tool went down through the complete height of the drum, there'may be inaccuracies in the grooves.

In order to provide crossover points at predetermined locations, it is proposed to provide a cam arrangement on the side of the table supporting the drum to be grooved. When the cam 42 strikes the camming surface 40, a limit switch is closed and the ram and grooving tool start downward. The ram will continue downward until the limit switch 94 has been closed. This switch will close after the ram has moved through a predetermined vertical distance.

The first limit switch activates a clutch which couples a continuously running motor with the ram-drive arrangement. Upon activation of the clutch, the ram will start its downward movement. The clutch will be deactivated after the ram has moved a distance sufficient to close limit switch 94. Brake 84 is operated simultaneously with the clutch. The brake normally holds and is released when the clutch is operated. In this way, there will be no overrun and the crossover groove will be formed to precise tolerances. The combination of the brake and clutch is important to precisely and immediately stop the ram after it has moved a sufficient distance to form the crossover groove.

Whereas the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it should be realized that there are many modifications, substitutions, and alterations thereto within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A mechanism for grooving cable winding drums or the like including a horizontal platform for positioning a cable winding drum to be grooved in a generally vertical position, means for rotating said platform and drum, a grooving tool and a support structure therefor, said tool being positioned to form a groove generally perpendicular to the drum axis as the drum rotates, means for moving said grooving tool in a direction parallel to the drum axis, including a drive motor, and means for controlling the axial movement of said grooving tool such that during each complete rotation of the drum it moves, in at least one increment, a distance at least equal to the width of the groove being formed, including a clutch for engaging and disengaging said drive motor, a brake arranged to stop axial movement of said tool, and means for causing simultaneous engagement of said clutch and release of said brake and subsequent simultaneous disengagement of said clutch and operation of said brake.

2. A mechanism for grooving cable winding drums or the like including a rotatable horizontal platform for supporting a drum to be grooved in a generally vertical direction and for rotating it, a grooving tool and a support structure therefor, said tool being positioned to groove the outer periphery of the drum as the drum rotates, a drive motor for moving said grooving tool in a direction generally parallel to the drum axis, a clutch for engaging and disengaging said drive motor to control the axial movement of said tool, a brake for stopping movement of said tool, means for operating the clutch at least once during each complete rotation of the drum and at a predetermined angular position, and means for disengaging said clutch and simultaneously operating said brake after said tool has moved a predetermined distance in an axial direction.

3. The structure of claim 2 further characterized in that said clutch is engaged twice during each 360 degrees of drum rotation and at points generally degrees apart.

4. The structure of claim 2 further characterized in that the means for operating said clutch includes an outstanding portion on said rotating platform and a cam positioned to contact said outstanding portion as said platform rotates, movement of said cam being effective to engage said clutch.

5. A mechanism for grooving cable winding drums or the like including a rotatable horizontal platform for supporting a drum to be grooved in a generally vertical direction and for rotating it, a grooving tool and a support structure therefor, said tool being positioned to groove the outer periphery of the drum as the drum rotates, a drive motor for moving said grooving tool in a direction generally parallel to the drum axis, a clutch for engaging and disengaging said drive motor to control the axial movement of said tool, a gear connection between the drive motor and clutch, means for changing said gear connection to vary the axial speed of said tool, means for operating the clutch at least once during each complete rotation of the drum and at a predetermined angular position, a brake for stopping axial movement of said tool, and means for simultaneously operating said brake and disengaging said clutch after said tool has moved a predetermined axial distance.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,191,305 6/1916 Hendrickson 82-38 1,478,686 12/1923 Teller.

1,775,006 9/1930 Trosch 774 1,961,091 5/1934 Smith et al 8238 1,997,810 4/1935 Cole 774 2,734,695 2/1956 Le Bus 82-5 X OTHER REFERENCES American Machinist, vol. 90, Jan. 31, 1946, p. 117, copy in 82-5.

WILLIAM W. DYER, IR., Primary Examiner. 

1. A MENCHANISM FOR GROOVING CABLE WINDING DRUMS OR THE LIKE INCLUDING A HORIZONTAL PLATFORM FOR POSITIONING A CABLE WINDING DRUM TO BE GROOVED IN A GENERALLY VERTICAL POSITION, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID PLATFORM AND DRUM, A GROOVING TOOL AND A SUPPORT STRUCTURE THEREFOR, SAID TOOL BEING POSITIONED TO FORM A GROOVE GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE DRUM AXIS AS THE DRUM ROTATES, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID GROOVING TOOL IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO THE DRIM AXIS, INCLUDING A DRIVE MOTOR, AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID GROOVING TOIOL SUCH THAT DURING EACH COMPLETE ROTATION OF THE DRUM IT MOVES, IN AT LEAST ONE INCREMENT, A DISTANCE AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE WIDTH OF THE GROOVE BEING FORMED, INCLUDING A CLUTCH FOR ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING SAID DRIVE MOTOR, A BRAKE ARRANGED TO STOP AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID TOOL, AND MEANS FOR CAUSING SIMULTANEOUS ENGAGEMENT OF SAID CLUTCH AND RELEASE OF SAID BRAKE AND SUBSEQUENT SIMULTANEOUS DISENGAGEMENT OF SAID CLUTCH AND OPERATION OF SAID BRAKE. 